Skylight with high angle sunlight shade device

ABSTRACT

A skylight shade device and skylight mounted on a roof of a building includes a roof and a skylight installed on the roof. A shade element including photovoltaic cells is positioned to occlude at least a portion of high angle sunlight through the skylight dome without occluding low angle sunlight through the skylight dome.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a Continuation-in-Part of, and claims thebenefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/466,871, filed 22 Aug.2014.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to skylights.

More particularly, the present invention relates to control of lightthrough skylights.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the field of lighting, skylights are often employed to increasenatural lighting in an enclosed space such as buildings. The use ofnatural lighting can be a low cost method of increasing light andreducing electricity costs. Roof mounted skylights produce more lightthan is required at high sun angles and therefore more heat from theexcess sunlight. The excess solar heat gain negatively impacts theenergy performance of the building and creates discomfort for theoccupants.

Temporary shade screens above or below the skylight have been employedin an attempt to reduce this effect. While somewhat effective, shadescreens would have to be installed and removed continuously throughoutthe year, or very costly mechanical devices would be needed, that couldbe operated to open and close the shade screens at certain times of theday. Other solutions are inconvenient and very costly.

It would be highly advantageous, therefore, to remedy the foregoing andother deficiencies inherent in the prior art.

An object of the present invention is to provide a shade device forskylights.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a shade devicethat does not require any daily or routine adjustments or maintenance.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a shade devicefor skylights that creates a daily “eclipse” effect, limiting oreliminating certain high sun angle light.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Briefly, to achieve the desired objects and advantages of the instantinvention, provided is a skylight shade device and a skylight mounted ona roof of a building. The skylight installed on the roof includes askylight dome entirely covering a skylight opening formed in the roof.The skylight dome is entirely transparent to sunlight and has an innersurface toward the roof defining an inside of the skylight dome and anouter surface away from the roof defining an outside of the skylightdome. A shade element including photovoltaic cells is positioned toocclude at least a portion of high angle sunlight through the skylightdome without occluding low angle sunlight through the skylight dome.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and further and more specific objects and advantages ofthe instant invention will become readily apparent to those skilled inthe art from the following detailed description of a preferredembodiment thereof taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a shade device, including a securityscreen, mounted on a skylight according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of shade device mounted on a skylightaccording to the present invention; and

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of photovoltaic shade device mounted on askylight according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Roof mounted skylights are used for the purpose of illuminating theinterior of a building with sunlight. Most common skylights capturesunlight and direct the light into a building from sunrise to sunset.Light levels introduced into the building vary from very low to veryhigh, depending on the time of day or angle of the sun. In the morning,low angles of the sun, a skylight will produce very low light levels andin the mid-day hours the high sun angles will produce a very high levelof light, too much light which also creates more heat in the area beinglit by the skylight. Roof mounted skylights often produce more lightthan is required at high sun angles and therefore more heat from theexcess sunlight. The excess solar heat gain negatively impacts theenergy performance of a building and creates discomfort for theoccupants.

Turning now to the drawings in which like reference characters indicatecorresponding elements throughout the several views, attention is firstdirected to FIG. 1 which illustrate a skylight 10 having a high anglesunlight shading device 12 engaged therewith. Skylight 10 is carried byroof 14 and includes a frame 15 and a dome 16. It will be understoodthat various types, aperture sizes and shapes of skylights areavailable, and high angle sunlight shading device 12 can be utilizedwith these different skylights. Additionally, while skylight 10 isillustrated as including frame 15, it will be understood that othertypes of skylight do not have a frame. It will also be understood thatwhile dome 16 is illustrated as having a domed shape, the presentinvention can also be used on skylights having a dome 16 that is flatand may be a single lens/dome or multiple lenses/dome.

Still referring to FIG. 1, shading device 12 includes a supportstructure 20 and a shade element 22 supported thereby. In thisembodiment, support structure 20 is a wire mesh security screen, oftenrequired by code, to which shade element 22 is coupled. Shade element 22is mounted above skylight dome 16 to block out a predetermined amount ofsolar energy, namely, occluding at least some high angle sunlightwithout occluding low angle sunlight. Shade element 22 can be of variousshapes, sizes and materials, but has a surface area smaller than thesurface area of skylight dome 16. Shade element 22 produces the effectof a Solar Eclipse by coming between the sun and skylight 10 as thesolar angles get higher (increase). Shade element 22 will begin shadingthe amount of light that hits the skylight lens as the sun or solarangle increases, which will minimize the amount of solar gain in thehigher solar angles. Shade element 22 will provide minimal or no shadingduring the lower sun or solar angles. Shade element 22 can be aperforated or solid metal form of circular, elliptical, square or othershapes, suspended above skylight dome 16 by support structure 20. Shadeelement 22 creates an “eclipse” effect to manage and reduce excess solargain at prescribed higher sun angles. The management of the excess solargain will enhance the comfort level and energy performance of thebuilding. Shade element 22 will be a predetermined size and shape andwill be mounted a predetermined height above the surface of skylightdome 16 to provide the maximum eclipse effect for that size and shape ofskylight 10. While shade element 22 is preferably formed of metal, itcan also be formed of a translucent or opaque acrylic, glass, or othermaterial that reduce penetration of sunlight.

While in the preferred embodiment shade element 22 is carried by andpositioned above dome 16 by support structure 20 which is a meshsecurity screen, support structure 20 can take other forms, such asmetal arm supports or brackets that are fastened to skylight frame 15.In this case, shade element 22 is suspended above the surface of theskylight dome and supported by metal arm supports that are fastened toskylight frame 15.

Turning now to FIG. 2, another embodiment of a high angle sunlightshading device, generally designated 50 is illustrated. Device 50includes a shade element 52 carried by a support element 53, which inthis embodiment is dome 16 of skylight 10. Shade element 52 is coupledto dome 16 in a number of possible methods, such as by adhesive to aninner surface or an outer surface. Shade element 52 can also be formedwithin dome 16 during fabrication. In all of these instances, shadeelement 52 is positioned generally centrally of skylight dome 16. Shadeelement 52 can be applied to dome 16 as a fixed body attached to dome16, or as a material applied to the surface spray with a or brushapplication. Thus, shade element 52 can be, for example, metal, a tintedor dark acrylic or glass, a dark or black paint or coating, and thelike.

Shade element 22 whether applied to the surface of skylight dome 16 orsuspended above skylight dome 16 by support structure 20 will create an“eclipse” effect that will provide positive shading of the skylight domesurface during high sun angle portions of the day. Each embodimentdescribed will allow full sun penetration into skylight 10 at certainlower sun angle periods but will increasingly block excess sunlight frompenetrating skylight dome 16 during predetermined high sun angle periodsof the day. The eclipse effect is vital to managing the solar gain andresulting solar heat produced by skylights at high sun angle periods.The various materials and embodiments will produce a like effect andwill allow for conditions where a security screens is required by safetyor building code standards and for conditions where no safety screens isrequired.

Device 12 provides a daily eclipse effect without any adjustments ormechanical means to alleviate excess light and heat during high sunangle periods, and can be applied to new or existing skylights that aremanufactured of various material(s) such as fiberglass, glass, polyvinyl chloride, acrylic, polycarbonate, or other material(s) commonlyfound in the skylight industry. High angle sunlight shading device 12will provide the same effect on skylight surfaces having flat or domeshapes. With precisely engineered shade elements creating a daily“eclipse” effect certain high sun angle light will be limited oreliminated, while allowing lower sun angle light full entry into abuilding. Shade device 12 will be permanent and will not require anydaily or routine adjustments or maintenance.

The materials used for shade element 22 are preferably developed andapplied during the manufacturing process of the skylight products. Thematerials that would be suspended above the dome will be manufacturedand fastened to the security screens or arm brackets during themanufacturing process. The material(s) applied directly to the skylightdome in a disc shape will be adhered to or applied to the inner or outersurface of the skylight dome during the manufacturing process of theskylight assembly. The hard form materials i.e. metal discs/ellipticalsor other shapes and translucent or opaque acrylic discs/ellipticals orother shapes can be produced by the skylight manufacturer and applied tothe skylight dome or the security screens during the manufacturing andassembly process. The material discs, ellipticals or other shapes thatwill be adhered directly to the inner or outer surface of the skylightdome can be applied to the surface with a spray or brush applicationduring the assembly phase after the skylight dome is manufactured. Thecircular, elliptical or other shapes formed directly into the skylightdome will be formed during the manufacturing process.

All of the described elements are equally necessary as they addressvarious conditions where skylights are specified for installation. Manyskylight specifications require externally mounted security screens tobe supplied with the skylight which then would require the eclipse discto be applied as a part of the external screen. Many skylightspecifications do not require externally fixed security screens and willtherefor require the eclipsing disc to be directly applied to thesurface of the skylight dome. As skylights have been in use for over 50years and are heavily used in current construction a variety of methodsand materials is required to meet the varied conditions andrequirements.

All of the methods and materials could theoretically be interchanged tocreate the desired eclipse effect. For example a translucent acrylicdisc could be fastened to an externally mounted security screen, or asolid metal or perforated metal disc could be adhered to the surface ofthe skylight dome. The need for the various materials is dictated by theease and cost of manufacturing and installation.

Turning now to FIG. 3, another embodiment of a high angle sunlightshading device, generally designated 112, positioned on skylight 10, isillustrated. As in the previous embodiments, skylight 10 is carried by aroof 14 and includes a frame 15 and a dome 16. It will be understoodthat various types, aperture sizes and shapes of skylights areavailable, and high angle sunlight shading device 112 can be utilizedwith these different skylights. Additionally, while skylight 10 isillustrated as including frame 15, it will be understood that othertypes of skylight do not have a frame. It will also be understood thatwhile dome 16 is illustrated as having a domed shape, the presentinvention can also be used on skylights having a dome 16 that is flatand may be a single lens/dome or multiple lenses/dome.

Still referring to FIG. 3, shading device 112 includes a supportstructure 120 and a shade element 122 supported thereby. In thisembodiment, shade element 122 is preferably a solar panel. In thisembodiment, support structure 120 is a bracket 124 which can befabricated of material sufficiently rigid to support shade element 122.This material includes wood, metal, plastic and the like. Bracket 124 iscoupled to frame 15 and extends upwardly, supporting shade element 122above and overlying dome 16. In as specific example, shade element 122is suspended above the surface of skylight dome 16 by metal arm supports(bracket 124) that are fastened to skylight frame 15. Shade element 122is mounted above skylight dome 16 to block out a predetermined amount ofsolar energy, namely, occluding at least some high angle sunlightwithout occluding low angle sunlight. Shade element 122 in thisembodiment consist of photovoltaic (PV) cells. Photovoltaic cellsconvert light (photons) into electricity (voltage). Shade element 122,including photovoltaic cells, can be of any shape such as but notlimited to, oblong, rectangular, square, round etc. Photovoltaic cellscan be panels in frames and mounted with brackets above the skylight orattached to the inside or outside of a skylight dome. Regardless of themounting method, the PV array is mounted so that low sun angles areallowed to strike the skylight dome without any sun blockage and as thesun moves to higher angles, shade element 122 including photovoltaiccells will start blocking the sunlight and can be mounted flat or angledto the sun. Unlike a stand-alone PV system, shade element 122 havingphotovoltaic cells has a dual purpose. It provides shading on a skylightin high sun angles which reduces the solar heat gain caused by theexcess light from the skylight and the photovoltaic cells generateelectricity for the building usage or to be directed back into theexisting power grid similar to a stand-alone PV system.

While a bracket 124, also referred to as upright supports, are employedin this specific embodiment, it will be understood that the wire meshsecurity screen as described with respect to FIG. 1 can also be used.

Various changes and modifications to the embodiments herein chosen forpurposes of illustration will readily occur to those skilled in the art.To the extent that such modifications and variations do not depart fromthe spirit of the invention, they are intended to be included within thescope thereof, which is assessed only by a fair interpretation of thefollowing claims.

Having fully described the invention in such clear and concise terms asto enable those skilled in the art to understand and practice the same,the invention claimed is:

1. A skylight shade device and skylight mounted on a roof of a buildingcomprising: a roof a skylight installed on the roof, the skylight havinga skylight dome entirely covering a skylight opening formed in the roof,the skylight dome being entirely transparent to sunlight and having aninner surface toward the roof defining an inside of the skylight domeand an outer surface away from the roof defining an outside of theskylight dome; and a shade element positioned to occlude at least aportion of high angle sunlight through the skylight dome withoutoccluding low angle sunlight through the skylight dome, the shadeelement including photovoltaic cells.
 2. A skylight shade device andskylight mounted on a roof of a building as claimed in claim 1 whereinthe shade element is smaller than the skylight dome.
 3. A skylight shadedevice and skylight mounted on a roof of a building as claimed in claim1 further comprising a support structure supporting and positioning theshade element above the skylight dome.
 4. A skylight shade device andskylight mounted on a roof of a building as claimed in claim 3 whereinthe support structure is a security screen mounted on the skylight.
 5. Askylight shade device and skylight mounted on a roof of a building asclaimed in claim 3 wherein the support structure includes the skylightdome.
 6. A skylight shade device and skylight mounted on a roof of abuilding as claimed in claim 1 wherein the shade element produces anartificial eclipse of sunlight through the skylight dome.
 7. A skylightshade device and skylight mounted on a roof of a building comprising: aroof; a skylight installed on the roof, the skylight having a skylightdome with a surface area, the skylight dome entirely covering a skylightopening formed in the roof, the skylight dome entirely transparent tosunlight; and a shade element including photovoltaic cells, the shadeelement having a surface area smaller than the surface area of theskylight dome and positioned generally centrally within the surface areaof the skylight dome to prevent at least a portion of high anglesunlight from passing through the skylight dome without occluding lowangle sunlight through the skylight dome.
 8. A skylight shade device andskylight mounted on a roof of a building as claimed in claim 7 furthercomprising a support structure supporting and positioning the shadeelement above the skylight dome.
 9. A skylight shade device as claimedin claim 8 wherein the support structure is a security screen mounted onthe skylight.
 10. A skylight shade device and skylight mounted on a roofof a building as claimed in claim 8 wherein the support structureincludes the skylight dome.
 11. A skylight shade device and skylightmounted on a roof of a building as claimed in claim 7 wherein the shadeelement produces an artificial eclipse of sunlight through the skylightdome.